The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has welcomed a Special Tribunal order freezing a luxury property in Gauteng and a farm in the Free State linked to businessman Thapelo Samuel Buthelezi as part of efforts to recover hundreds of millions of rand lost through unlawful emergency medical services contracts.

The latest preservation order targets an upmarket property in Meyersdal Nature Estate in Alberton, Gauteng, allegedly linked to Buthelezi. The order prohibits him from selling, transferring, mortgaging or otherwise dealing with the property while legal proceedings continue.

The SIU said the order forms part of broader attempts to recover public funds following findings that the Free State Department of Health unlawfully awarded emergency medical services tenders worth more than R532 million to companies associated with Buthelezi.

The anti-corruption agency confirmed that the Special Tribunal had previously granted another interdict in January this year against a 1,071-square-metre farm in Parys in the Free State. The farm is registered under Buthelezi EMS, one of the companies implicated in the controversial contracts.

According to the SIU, the Tribunal earlier ruled that the Free State Department of Health’s appointment of Buthelezi EMS and affiliated entities for inter-facility emergency medical services was unlawful, procedurally irregular and unconstitutional.

The contracts formed part of multimillion-rand EMS outsourcing agreements awarded by the provincial health department.

The SIU launched civil proceedings to have the tenders reviewed and set aside after investigators found that the department had paid a staggering R532,789,770.12 to four companies linked to Buthelezi.

On 5 May 2025, the Special Tribunal ordered the repayment of funds unlawfully received by the entities.

The repayments included:

• R40.6 million paid to Buthelezi One Stop Emergency Med;
• R4.7 million paid to Buthelezi One Stop EMS;
• R305.1 million paid to Buthelezi EMS; and
• R182.2 million paid to B EMS.

The Tribunal also ordered Buthelezi EMS to submit audited financial statements within 45 days, detailing all expenses incurred, income received, and profits made from the contracts, together with supporting documentation.

However, the SIU said Buthelezi failed to comply with the order despite repeated reminders and follow-up requests.

This prompted the SIU to seek judicial intervention through contempt proceedings after months of alleged non-compliance.

A judicial case management meeting was later convened virtually on 12 September 2025 at the SIU’s request and chaired by Special Tribunal President Margaret Victor.

In court papers, Buthelezi reportedly did not deny that he knew about the May 2025 order but argued that financial difficulties, lack of legal representation and other practical challenges prevented him from complying fully with the Tribunal’s directives.

The Tribunal was not persuaded.

On 23 January 2026, after Buthelezi failed to appear at a scheduled hearing, the Tribunal granted another interdict in favour of the SIU relating to the Parys farm situated in the Ngwathe Local Municipality.

That order barred Buthelezi EMS from selling, transferring, mortgaging, pledging or otherwise encumbering the property.

The SIU investigation into the controversial EMS contracts stems from Proclamation 42 of 2019, which authorised the unit to investigate allegations of corruption, maladministration and irregular procurement processes linked to the Free State Department of Health.

The case has become one of the SIU’s major efforts to recover state funds allegedly lost through irregular government contracts.

The SIU said the freezing orders are aimed at preserving assets while legal processes continue to ensure that funds can potentially be recovered for the state should the courts rule in the government’s favour.

SIU spokesperson Selby Makgotho said the preservation measures formed part of the unit’s broader mandate to protect public assets and combat corruption.

The SIU is empowered under the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996 to institute civil proceedings in either the Special Tribunal or the High Court to correct wrongdoing uncovered during investigations.

The unit can also refer evidence of possible criminal conduct to the National Prosecuting Authority for further prosecution.

Over the years, the SIU has increasingly turned to preservation and forfeiture orders to prevent individuals implicated in corruption investigations from disposing of assets before the state can recover funds.

The Free State Department of Health has repeatedly come under scrutiny over procurement irregularities, particularly in emergency medical services and healthcare contracts.

Analysts say the latest freezing orders signal growing pressure on individuals accused of benefitting from irregular state tenders, especially as law enforcement agencies intensify efforts to recover public money lost through corruption.

The matter is expected to return to the Special Tribunal as the SIU continues with its recovery efforts and contempt proceedings against Buthelezi and the implicated companies.